Executive Director, Fiscal Sponsorship Initiatives

Uplift Alliance, Inc. is a non-profit organization created in 2023 by the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), along with many other stakeholders, to help fill the longstanding gap in fiscal sponsorship services in Baltimore City. UMB and Uplift Alliance recognized the advantage of building on their shared commitment to provide innovative changemakers with support to carry out their missions and make an impact for residents across Baltimore City and beyond. Uplift Alliance is now in its third year of operations and is supporting over twenty sponsored projects and managing over $4 million.

As part of its commitment to the success of Uplift Alliance, UMB entered into an affiliate agreement with Uplift Alliance and is supporting the salary of the Executive Director as well as housing the non-profit on campus at UMB. The affiliation agreement affirms that UMB and Uplift are independent corporate entities with a commitment to collaborate for the mutual benefit of the two entities. Within UMB, the Executive Director position reports to the Senior Director of Special Projects in the Office of the President. The Executive Director also reports to the Board of Directors of Uplift Alliance. The Board of Uplift Alliance is comprised of representatives of UMB as well as community and philanthropic leaders.

Since the inaugural Executive Director left at the end of 2025, an interim Executive Director has been leading the organization and is overseeing the search for a permanent Executive Director.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is Maryland's public health, law, and human services university. Six professional schools and the interdisciplinary Graduate School confer the majority of health care, human services, and law professional degrees in Maryland each year. The University's mission is to improve the human condition and serve the public good of Maryland and society at-large through education, research, clinical care, and service.

Benefits: Exempt Regular

UMB offers a comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes wellness, work/life balance, and professional development, along with additional exciting perks that employees can take advantage of. This position participates in a retirement program (pension or optional retirement plan/ORP) that must be selected and is effective on your date of hire. Exempt regular staff receive a generous PAID leave package that includes over 4 weeks of vacation accrued each year, 15 paid holidays, 3 personal leave, unlimited accrual of sick time, and comprehensive health insurance; professional learning and development programs; tuition remission for employees and their dependents at any University System of Maryland school; and flexible work schedules and teleworking options (if applicable per job).

UMB is a public university and constituent institution of the University System of Maryland. All employees are expected to work primarily physically within the State of Maryland.

Primary Duties:

Strategic Leadership and Organizational Direction

• Partner with the Board of Directors to define organizational priorities, long-term strategy, and annual goals.

• Translate strategic priorities into actionable workplans, timelines, and accountability structures.

• Lead organizational planning efforts that strengthen Uplift's role as a trusted fiscal sponsor and community infrastructure partner.

• Identify opportunities to improve Uplift's service model, operating structure, and long-term sustainability.

• Represent Uplift Alliance as a credible, responsive, and values-driven leader in Baltimore's nonprofit ecosystem.

• Foster a team culture rooted in professionalism, transparency, equity, and problem-solving.

• Support staff development and ensure team members have the tools, training, and guidance needed to succeed.

• Cultivate and manage relationships with funders, institutional partners, government agencies, nonprofit leaders, and community stakeholders.

• Communicate Uplift's value clearly to partners, funders, and the broader nonprofit community.

Fiscal Sponsorship Leadership and Partner Support

• Strengthen service standards, workflows, and organizational processes to establish clear operating expectations for Uplift and its sponsored projects.

• Build internal systems that improve efficiency, communication, and service delivery.

• Build strong, trust-based relationships with sponsored project leaders while maintaining appropriate accountability and boundaries.

• Support the evaluation of new fiscal sponsorship opportunities and assess alignment with Uplift's mission, capacity, and risk profile.

Financial Management and Operational Oversight

In partnership with the Director of Finance:

• Oversee organizational budgeting, financial planning, cash flow monitoring, and financial reporting.

• Ensure timely and accurate financial reports for both Uplift Alliance and its sponsored projects.

• Strengthen internal controls, financial policies, approval processes, and documentation standards.

• Oversee annual audit, Form 990 preparation, grant reporting, and other compliance obligations.

• Ensure that Uplift's financial practices support transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability.

Board Relations and Governance

• Provide regular updates to the Board regarding organizational performance, finances, risks, opportunities, and strategic priorities.

• Prepare board materials, reports, dashboards, and recommendations that support effective oversight.

• Partner with the Board Chair and committees to advance governance priorities.

• Support board recruitment, orientation, engagement, and committee work.

• Ensure the Board has the information needed to fulfill its fiduciary and strategic responsibilities.

Compliance, Risk Management, and Accountability

• Oversee compliance with grant agreements, fiscal sponsorship agreements, organizational policies, and legal requirements.

• Identify and manage organizational risks related to finance, contracts, personnel, sponsored projects, and external partnerships.

• Ensure policies and procedures are documented, implemented, and updated as needed.

• Maintain appropriate records, documentation, and decision-making processes.

• Promote a culture of accountability, ethical practice, and sound stewardship.

Education: Bachelor's degree

Experience: Ten (10) years of related experience preferably with nonprofit leadership positions or similar roles

Supervisory Experience: Five (5) years of supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to read, understand, and respond to complicated financial documents.

• Skill in developing and leading high-performing teams.

• Experience with fiscal sponsors and fiscally sponsored organizations.

• Experience working in collaboration with large public organizations (e.g., universities, government).

• Ability to work well with a varied set of stakeholders (board, philanthropy, sponsorship clients, and others).

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Commitment to the mission and values of Uplift Alliance, Inc.

Strongly Preferred:

• Deep understanding of, and history of work with, the Baltimore non-profit sector.

Other: Position will require annual financial disclosure under Maryland State Ethics Law.

Hiring Range: $148,500 - $160,000, Commensurate with education and experience

UMB is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce and is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, ancestry or national origin, sex, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, marital status, protected veteran's status, or any other legally protected classification.

If you anticipate needing a reasonable accommodation for a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), during any part of the employment process, please submit a UMB Job Applicant Accommodation Request. You may also contact leave_and_accom@umaryland.edu Please note that only inquiries concerning an ADA request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. Read the UMB Notice of Non-Discrimination for more information.